8 Kong Characters Hidden In The Super Mario Bros Movie

Jun 05, 2023

The Super Mario Bros. Movie features cameos from all kinds of beloved video game characters, but the various Kong cameos are especially prominent.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Super Mario Bros. Movie!

Nintendo's iconic Kong family is prominently featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and here are eight of the beloved Kong characters that you can find hidden throughout the film. Some Kongs play a major role in the narrative of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with characters like Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong being integral to the progression of the story. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie also features some pretty obscure Kongs in cameo roles, with only eagle-eyed fans picking up on these hidden characters. So, here is every Kong that can be seen in Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie finally brought Mario, Luigi, and the rest of the Mushroom Kingdom gang to the big screen in animation for the first time, with the film being a massive critical and commercial success. The Super Mario Bros. Movie tells a story similar to those seen in Nintendo's iconic Super Mario Bros. video game series, with the film following Mario as he attempts to save the Mushroom Kingdom from the villainous King Bowser. While the story may be a bit generic, The Super Mario Bros. Movie actually features tons of deep-cut references and Easter eggs throughout. However, the most exciting cameos are those of the Kongs.

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Donkey Kong is by far the most popular member of the Kong family, with him even sharing his name with Mario's 1981 debut game, Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong, played by Seth Rogen, acts as a foil for Mario throughout the film, with him joining the plumber as well as Peach, Toad, and the rest of the Kong army to stop Bowser's plan. With Donkey Kong being the protagonist of the Donkey Kong series of video games, it's no surprise that he would turn up in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Plus, with rumors of a Donkey Kong spin-off film making the rounds, Donkey Kong's story is far from over.

Cranky Kong is the other Kong family member prominently featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but unlike Donkey Kong, his role in the Super Mario universe has been changed significantly. Cranky Kong, played by Fred Armisen, is the king of the Jungle Kingdom, with him being in control of the Kong army. In the game series, Cranky is the grandfather of the current Donkey Kong, with him not sporting his royal role. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie reveals that Cranky Kong is actually Donkey Kong's father, making the already confusing Kong family tree even more convoluted. Due to these changes, Cranky's role is much greater in the movie.

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Diddy Kong is often seen as the sidekick of Donkey Kong throughout the games, with him being a playable character in all kinds of Mario and Donkey Kong games. Despite this, Diddy (voiced by Eric Bauza) only makes a brief appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with his cameo only consisting of a few lines of dialogue. Diddy gets called out by his great-uncle Cranky during the fight between Mario and DK, with Diddy still cheering after Cranky tells the crowd to quiet down. Due to Diddy's popularity, it's great that The Super Mario Bros. Movie gave the young Kong some time to shine.

Dixie Kong is another popular Donkey Kong sidekick character, with her being one of the main playable Kongs in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Dixie can be seen during the fight between Mario and Donkey Kong in the Jungle Kingdom, with her sitting alongside Diddy and some of the other Kong characters. Dixie may not have had any spoken lines of dialogue, but her facial expressions allow the character to express her big personality in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with her hopefully having a bigger role in the sequel.

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Chunky Kong is a pretty obscure character from the Donkey Kong franchise, making his cameo appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie pretty exciting. Chunky is a large Kong family member who is almost always sporting his blue vest, white shirt, and red hat. Chunky Kong first appeared in Donkey Kong 64, with him being one of the playable characters, although Chunky hasn't been a playable character in any title since. In the film, Chunky can be seen in the Jungle Kingdom arena alongside Diddy and Dixie. Due to Chunky Kong's obscurity, many fans were worried that he was as good as dead, so it's good to see him back.

The final Kong character seen in the Jungle Kingdom arena scene is Swanky Kong. Swanky Kong is an incredibly obscure Donkey Kong character, with him only appearing as a minigame host in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble. Despite him not appearing in a Donkey Kong game since 2005, The Super Mario Bros. Movie showed some love to the lesser-known Kong character, with Swanky appearing alongside Diddy, Dixie, and Chunky, gold blazer and all.

Funky Kong is another popular Kong character, with him appearing in supporting roles in the Donkey Kong Country games, as well as a playable character in games like Mario Kart Wii and the Nintendo Switch port of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Funky Kong's cameo in The Super Mario Bros. Movie is incredibly brief, with him only being seen driving a car during the Rainbow Road chase sequence. However, Funky's iconic look makes him stand out from the other racers, making his cameo pretty exciting.

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Kiddy Kong is a controversial character from the Donkey Kong series, with him first appearing as one of the main playable characters in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Despite the young Kong being the butt of many online jokes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie also gives Kiddy a brief cameo, with him also being seen driving alongside Mario, Funky, and the other characters during the Rainbow Road chase sequence. Kiddy Kong is one of the most obscure cameos in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, showing how much care was put into giving love to every aspect of Nintendo's beloved franchise.

Robert Pitman is a Movies/TV features writer for ScreenRant and loves all things nerdy. He has had experience with editing and SEO in his time working at WVUA 90.7 FM, the University of Alabama's official student radio station. Robert is currently a junior at the University of Alabama and is doing a double major in Creative Media and General Business. Robert has been working with ScreenRant since January 2022, and in his time with the outlet has gone on to publish several articles that have found great success. At ScreenRant, Robert is currently a self-publishing Senior Core Features writer, with him covering a variety of topics. Robert mostly writes about perennial TV and movies, theatrical releases, and streaming releases, although he occasionally writes about other topics that he is knowledgeable about.